Ex-BCCL man dies in car crash

- Doctor, family injured in head-on collision in Bokaro

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The two damaged cars near Telmachho bridge, Bokaro, on Monday. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, April 28: A 61-year-old man died when his speeding car collided head-on with another carrying a lady doctor’s family near Telmachho bridge, about 15km from Bokaro steel city, on Monday morning.

Kashinath Mahto, a retired officer of Bharat Coking Coal Limited, died on the spot.

The occupants of the other car, S. Toppo, a well-known gynaecologist of Durgapur in Bengal, her husband B.K. Toppo and their two children — 15-year-old Soni Kumari and 13-year-old Ankit Kumar — were injured along with Kashinath’s driver Azad Sheikh (53). All five were rushed to Bokaro General Hospital, where Azad’s condition is stated to be serious.

According to Sector IX police, under whose jurisdiction the accident spot falls, Kashinath, a resident of Mahuda in Dhanbad, was going to Bokaro in his car, a red Swift.

S. Toppo and her family were coming from Ranchi where they had gone to attend a social function. The doctor’s husband was at the wheels of the Swift Dzire. On the way, they stopped in Bokaro to meet some relatives and set out again for Durgapur around 10.30am. The accident occurred at 11am.

“From what we have gathered after speaking to eyewitnesses, it seems that Kashinath’s car was at very high speed. The doctor’s husband, who was at the wheels, tried his best to avoid a collision, but in vain. The cars hit each other and Kashinath died on the spot,” said officer-in-charge of Sector IX police station Rajesh Kumar.

A few villagers who saw the accident agreed.

Rameshwar Prasad Mahto, who was working in a nearby field, said the doctor’s car was moving at an average speed.

“It was the red car (belonging to Kashinath) that was speeding. It seemed as if they were in a hurry. As the fast moving car came near a curve near Telmachho, it lost control and hit the other car coming from the opposite direction. There was a big bang,” he added.

The villagers rushed to the spot and informed police, who came and rescued the injured, who were taken to Bokaro General Hospital. The impact of the crash was so severe that the front portions of both the cars were badly damaged.

OC Kumar said they were waiting to speak to the injured to get more details about the accident. “We will talk to them once their condition improves,” he added.